Study Expenses & Financial Aid

Tuition for study programs in China is generally affordable by international students. Scholarship students and those who participate in programs through their home universities generally need not worry themselves with tuition. In the prolonged study life in China, the key expense is the rental costs. 'Chinese Dormitories' are reasonable in rent structures with relatively better facilities. Prices for a share-based room stay vary and have grown more expensive at most Chinese universities over the previous few years. This is because of the luxury offered to facilitate foreign students. Chinese apartments are another stay option for students in China. 

In order to support communal understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people from the other parts of the globe and to enhance cooperation and exchanges in the fields of education, science & technology, culture, economics and trade connecting China and other countries, the Chinese Government has set up a series of scholarship and financial aid schemes to sponsor international students and scholars to carry out studies and research in Chinese institutions of higher education. International students may contact the relevant authorities or the nearby Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries for particulars. China will appreciate and encourage overseas students that can provide self-finance for the study affair in the country to take admissions in various programs. Students can also search for exact details of financial aid or loans in their home country.

Student Visa Details

Students who intend to study in China need to apply and get student visa by applying to nearby or any Chinese diplomatic missions. A student visa for China to study for more than six months is named as 'X Visa' and the student's visa required for China to study for less than six months is named as 'F Visa'. When applying for a student visa, an admission notice from the receiving university is necessary. More details can be acquired from the Chinese diplomatic mission. The important documents required for the student visa to study in China are:

• A proof from the educational institution in China that the student is selected for a study program,
• Course fee payment: Evidences or proof of financial assistance, if applicable,
• A complete and signed 'Application for Student Visa' form with a passport-size photograph of the student,
• A guarantee of accommodation in the form of a written assurance from an educational institution or other person that suitable residential accommodation is available to the student in China,
• A valid passport of the student,
• Evidences showing adequate financial support for the entire period of the student's study-stay in the land of China,
• Bank document/s showing that funds of the required amount will be available to the student in China for the entire period of study, and
• In case of students who got the scholarships or any other financial assistance, a proof of such details is required to produce.

All these documents are generally essential before a student visa is issued. After a complete processing from the Chinese Republic Government office, students will be issued a student visa. To be on the safer side, students are advised to apply for the visa at least a couple of months before the start of the course to avoid last minute confusions.

PhD Programs

PhD education in China is the second stage of the 'Graduate Education of China', while master's or post-graduation programs are regarded as the first stage. A PhD program will lead a student to a 'doctorate degree', which is a research-based program. PhD programs in China allow students to carry out research-based elaborate study for two different categories of personnel:

• Academic personnel' for research works and teaching in the higher level, and
• Applied personnel' in the specified areas of study such as masters of business administration, masters of engineers, masters of education and clinical doctors.

The eligibility to get admission into a PhD program in Chinese Universities is to possess a Master's degree or equivalent education. In addition to this minimum requirement, a student seeking PhD admission must have the recommendations of at least two associate professors or professors who are specialists in the concerned fields. The duration of PhD degree programs vary from three to five full years of study. The doctoral students should have a firm and complete grasp of basic theories and a deep, systematic and specialized knowledge of the desired disciplines.

The examination and evaluation for PhD programs in Chinese universities and other institutions is structured at different levels. The Academic Degree Committee of the State Council organizes the examination and evaluation of doctoral programs in conjunction with the responsible higher authorities. The Committee may also entrust commissions and departments concerned to conduct the examination and evaluation of doctoral programs in some special professional fields. Most of the institutions in China admit students on the basis of entrance tests for the PhD programs.

Master's Degree Programs

Students can obtain a Master's or Postgraduate degree in China, after three years of successful study following the Bachelor's degree, research and the submission of a specialized thesis. Students are required to study courses in the first half of the study term. They can only enter the dissertation preparation phase of Master's degree education if they have completed all required courses and obtained the necessary minimum of credits. Postgraduate programs in Chinese Universities and other higher educational institutions are honored as 'University level second stage degrees'. 

Institutions of various types provide master's degree programs in China such as General Universities, Technical Universities, Specialized Institutions offering Medicine, Agriculture, Foreign Languages degree courses and Teacher Training colleges. Postgraduate Schools formed in 4-year Colleges, Universities and National Scientific Research Institutions with the authorization of the Ministry of Education are responsible for the management and organization of postgraduate education. Depending on the course the international students choose to study, TOEFL and GMAT scores are mandatory for getting admission in China.

Internship Programs

There are different internship programs in different categories available in China for international students to choose - Summer Internship/Study Abroad Programs, Young Professional's Internship/Study Programs, MBA Internship/Study Program and Career based Internships - to name a few. Internships are even offered by many international or Chinese companies. Interns can undertake various duties during the internship period, depending on their own background, understanding, experience and Chinese language ability. Most of the internships in China are based on Business Development, Research, Human Resources or Marketing departments of various industries. 

These industries include IT, Finance, Real Estate, Hospitality, Sports Marketing, Telecommunications, Consultancy, Education and Training, Public Relations or Customer Care and Legal Affairs. Interesting internship opportunities in Chinese and International Companies in China are available in areas such as social and business networking events, professional Chinese language instruction, travel and sightseeing opportunities, extensive opportunities for cultural and business exchange and more. Job oriented internships such as Accounting, Art/Fine Arts, Business Administration, Management, Communications, Computer Science, Counseling in health and other fields, Education, English as a Second Language, Finance Hotel/Restaurant/Hospitality, Human Resources, Information Systems, International Relations, Law, Marketing, Advertisement, Government internships and English language teaching skills and others are also open for interested interns.

Education System

Study abroad Aspirants who are interested in pursuing an academic study program from China can get the basic information about the Education structure of the country here. China's education system has four components:

• Basic education,
• Occupational or polytechnic education,
• Common higher education, and
• Adult education.

• Basic education in China comprises of pre-school education, primary education, junior education and senior middle schooling.
• Occupational and Polytechnic Education in China comprises of medium-level professional schools, polytechnic schools, occupational middle schools as well as short-term occupational and technical training programs of various forms.
• Common Higher Education in China comprises of junior college, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. Junior college programs usually last for two or three years, bachelor's programs last for four to five years and the duration of master's program in China is two to three years of study. Final stage of China's education system offers doctoral degree, which is usually completed by minimum of three years duration.
• Adult education in China comprises of schooling education, anti-illiteracy education and other programs oriented to adult groups. The adult education category in China generally overlaps all three of the above categories. Adult secondary education schools incorporate radio and television for the educational training to their adult students.

Bachelor's Programs

The educational organizations that provide bachelor's degree programs in China comprises of Universities, Colleges and Professional Schools of higher education. These higher educational setups in China ensure quality teaching, learning, scientific schoolwork and social services to the students in Bachelor or undergraduate degree programs. Bachelor's degree programs are considered as the 'University level first stage' programs in China. Bachelor's degree in China is awarded to undergraduates of universities and colleges who have completed all requirements in teaching plans, reporting goods academic records in curricular subject studies and graduation thesis. The Bachelor's programs in China comprises normally of four years duration and fields like medicine will take five complete years of study.

The first degree is generally awarded after four years of full-time study and after five to six years for medicine, dentistry and at some universities for engineering and architecture. Students who successfully complete all undergraduate requirements are awarded two qualifications:

• Certificate of Degree, and
• Certificate of Graduation

Those who do not pass all requirements or enroll in non-degree programs only receive the Certificate of Graduation; no degree certificate is awarded.

Tuition fees for different undergraduate programs in China for international students are typically higher than the regular tuition fees. Tuition costs vary for each different university and programs. The admission requirements for an undergraduate study program for international students in China will comprise of letter of recommendation, passport details, Student Visa for entry in China, Insurance details among other papers and documents. The scholarship possibilities for overseas students for pursuing other undergraduate study program in China are limited. However, getting scholarships for students who want to go to China in order to study the Chinese language and culture is not a tough procedure.